Tag Archives: Intel

IBM challenges Intel with its 28 nm processor and Simon Fraser University ensures safety in nanotechnology labs

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A while back (Feb.11.2009), I posted about Intel’s $7B investment in production facilities for 32 nm processors. Yesterday, IBM announced this (from Beta News),

“… IBM and its alliance partners are helping to accelerate development of next-generation technology to achieve high-performance, energy-efficient chips at the 28 nm process level, maintaining our focus on technology leadership for our clients and partners,” stated IBM R&D chief Gary Patton …

The Beta News article provides an informative perspective (for neophytes like me) on the competition between the two companies.

Back to Simon Fraser University and their 4D Labs. I just got an announcement that,

4D LABS will be an example of how university-based research labs in Canada can meet semiconductor industry standards for ensuring personal safety as well as environmental protection from combustible and toxic gases.

(As far as I’m aware there is no standard for gases or anything else that is specific for nanotechnology fabrication in Canada or anywhere else for that matter. That said, Nanotech BC and other Canadian organizations have been quite involved in the International Council on Nanotechnology’s (ICON) occupation health and safety initiatives.) Again from the announcement,

SFU’s 4D LABS, science faculty and environmental health and safety (EHS) department collaborated on building a system to contain and neutralize gases. Designers had to integrate an extensive gas-piping network with thermal processing and neutralization equipment. The system uses a special burner and water treatment to break down, scrub and transform the gases into safe air emissions.

… “The design of this system is intended not only to protect the researchers and our environment, but also to raise environmental awareness of students, faculty, and visitors,” says Tom Cherng, 4D LABS’ process engineer.

Have a nice weekend.

Is nano good for jobs?

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The idea that nanotechnology might be able to help pull the US economy out of it’s current economic crisis is certainly being discussed seriously. For example, Intel CEO, Paul Otellini, announced a nanotechnology investment of $7B in February 2009.  (There’s more about this in my blog posting of Feb. 11, 2009). Now the folks at the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies have announced  a new event, Nanotechnology: Will It Drive a New Innovation Economy for the U.S.? on Monday, March 23, 2009 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am PST (if you’re on the East Coast and can attend they will serve a light lunch but you need to RSVP. More info. here.)The two speakers, Philip Shapira and Alan Porter, both have links to the Georgia (US)  Institute of Technology. I mention that because last October (2008) the Japanese government announced they were funding four research satellite projects in institutions outside of Japan. it was described as a unique collaboration and the Georgia Institute of Technology is the location for one of these research satellites. There’s more information here at Azonano. (Note: The headline focuses on the University of Cambridge so you do have to read on to find the information about the other sites.)

I attended a lecture or nanotechnology which was part of the University of British Columbia’s (Canada) research week. Professor Alireza Nojeh (electrical engineering) gave a charming presentation. I was curious about how he would deal with some of the problems you encounter when explaining nanotechnology. He focused on measurements, size, and scale at the beginning and did a better job than I do when I’m presenting. Still, I haven’t seen anyone really crack that barrier of how you describe something that’s unseen. The images help to convey scale but there’s a point at which most people are going to have to take a huge leap in imagination. Of course, we did that with germs but the ‘germ’ leap occurred before living memory so we’ll probably have to relearn that skill.

Dr. Nojeh had another problem, it’s a very big topic. I noticed that he avoided much talk of biology and medicine (I do too) and only briefly discussed potential health concerns. I think they will be webcasting this (they were recording it) but this is probably one of those talks that were better attended in person. I will try to find out where the webcast will be posted.

Nano Days 2009 and other nano news

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The NISE (nanoscale informal science education) Network has announced that its Nano Days programs for 2009 will take place between March 28 and April 5. From their website,

NanoDays is the NISE Network’s annual celebration of nanoscale science, technology, and engineering. NISE Net encourages its partners and any other community-based educational organizations, such as museums, research institutions, universities, and libraries, to focus their efforts on bringing nano to the public during one week each spring. NISE Net provides access to hands-on activities, downloadable media, and science and education professionals that can all help support institutions as they organize their events

You can check out the website and get more details here.

There was a big announcement from Intel made yesterday about investing $7B US to allow manufacturing of 32 nanometre (nm) chips in their existing plants in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. From a Feb. 10, 2009 news release on the Azonano website,

“We’re investing in America to keep Intel and our nation at the forefront of innovation,” [Paul] Otellini [Intel President and CEO] said. “These manufacturing facilities will produce the most advanced computing technology in the world. The capabilities of our 32nm factories are truly extraordinary, and the chips they produce will become the basic building blocks of the digital world, generating economic returns far beyond our industry.”

Otellini also gave a talk at the Economic Club of Washington, DC on the morning of Feb. 10, 2009. They haven’t posted the webcast yet but when they do, it should be here.

The intel announcement is interesting in light of the education program announcements made a few weeks ago which I mentioned here. There does seem to be a general mobilization towards re-establishing the US as a technological powerhouse.

I’ve also seen allusions to the space race of the 1950s and 60s which was instigated when the Russians were the first to explore space. That incident spurred the US to focus on technological goals and I wonder if this economic meltdown might not have some of the same effect as the space race did.